The Digital Fix: Film

Fitzcarraldo 25th AE in May

Anchor Bay have announced the UK Region 2 DVD release of Fitzcarraldo (25th Anniversary Collector's Edition) for 21st May 2007. With Fitzcarraldo, one of his most renowned films, acclaimed German director Werner Herzog emulates Joseph Conrad's ‘Heart of Darkness' in this mammoth epic set in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Klaus Kinski stars as the wild-eyed entrepreneur Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald (the Indians call him Fitzcarraldo) who dreams of bringing opera to the jungle and is literally driven mad by his passion for music.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Fitzcarraldo comes packaged with Les Blank's award-winning documentary Burden of Dreams. Les Blank's documentary follows the making of the film which parallels the quest to bring opera to the jungle with the director's own determination to see his project to the screen. Stars Jason Robards and Mick Jagger both pull out midway through the shoot, before weather woes, bad feelings on-set and a war between Peru and Ecuador all conspire to hold up the production. What does emerge is Herzog's remarkable, dogmatic attitude towards the chaos.

Fitzcarraldo is presented in the film's original theatrical widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio and is enhanced for 16x9 TVs. The commentary track, featuring Werner Herzog and producer Lucki Stipetic, reveals much of the ideals the filmmakers had when making this movie. The disc also contains a stills gallery with images from the set of the film, as well as promotional images.

Last updated: 19/04/2018 03:00:41

Did you enjoy the article above? If so please help us by sharing it to your social networks with the buttons below...